Pleasedon't feedthe wildlife
Nutrition
Whilefoodslikebread,popcorn,crackers,and bleachedgrainsmaytechnicallybeediblefor somewaterfowl,theylackcriticalnutrientslike proteinandcalcium.Fillinguponempty caloriesfromwater-loggedbreadcausesthe birdstobecomemalnourishedandcanleadto symptomsofmetabolicbonediseaselike malformedwingsandfragileeggs.Wildducks needabalanceddietofgrasses,aquaticplants, andinvertebratestosurviveandreproduce successfully.Evennutrient-densefoodslike commercialbirdfeedareproblematic;young birdscangrowtooquicklyresultingin abnormalflightfeathersthattwistoutatodd angles.Onceananimalisweak,itismorelikely toseekouthumanfoodsources,causinga viciouscyclethatincitesfurtherharm.
HabitatDegradation andWaterQuality
Theimpactsoffeedingwaterfowlarefeltby theentireecosystem. Adietrichin carbohydratessuchasbreadswillcausethe birdstodefecatemore,whichcanspread bacteriathatcancontributetodiseaseandan increaseinwaterpollution.Theexcess nutrientspromotealgalgrowthwhichcanbe dangeroustobothwildlifeandhumanswho drinkfromlocalwatersourcesorrecreatein ourlakes.Moldybreadthatisnoteatenandleft onthegroundcancauseaspergillosis,alung infectionthatcanbefataltowaterfowl.In addition,rottingfoodcanattractpests,suchas rats,mice,andinsects,whichcanspread disease.
Habituation
Whenwildanimalsassociatehumanswith food,whetherbypurposefulfeedingsor accidentalofferings(i.e.,picnicscrapsleftin thegrass),theybecomeadangertoboth themselvesandhumans.Swansandgeese havebeenknowntoactaggressivelytoward peopleinpopularfeedingspotslikeparks. Canadageesearefederallyprotectedunder theMigratoryBirdTreatyAct.Theycanonly beremovedwithapermitissuedbytheUS FishandWildlifeAgency. Ifanabundant supplyoffoodisreadilyavailablefrom humans,thepopulationwillgrowbecause thebirdswillbeattractedtothehandouts. Thiscancausetheareatobecome overcrowded.Asupplyofeasy-to-acquire foodwillalsoleadthebirdstolaymore eggs,whichcanfurthercontributeto overpopulation.
